Looking for and moving into your first apartment in Houston is an electrifying, sometimes crazy, and generally hectic adventure. Preparing is the best you can to do keep things from becoming mind-boggling. If you are moving into an apartment for the first time, here is a list of five things you should be aware of before you move any boxes.
1) Ask questions before signing anything.
A lease is a legal, binding agreement between you and your landlord. Sometimes, the language can seen complicated and the terms might not be clear. Or, maybe, you notice something in the contract that concerns you after you scrutinize it. Possibly you see something in the initial walk-through that you want to know more about. Whatever your question is, do not hesitate to ask it. A good landlord would rather have you walk away with the answers and not signing a lease than see you sign it and have issues later because you were not clear about something from the start and never asked for an explanation.
Landlordology has a great list of questions to ask your landlord before you sign your lease - 20 Revealing Questions that Every Renter Should Ask (from a Landlord's Perspective).
2) Do a walk-through of the apartment with the landlord, if possible, prior to moving your belongings in.
On move-in day in Houston, before you get occupied with the whirlwind of moving in everything you own, ask the landlord to do a once-over of the apartment to check for damages or any other pre-existing issues that might have gone unnoticed when they were prepping it for your move-in date. This is a brilliant idea for two reasons. The first is so that you both can see what is going on without the disarray of furniture and boxes. The second reason is that once you move your belongings in, your landlord can contend that they have no way to know for sure the issue was there before you arrived. If the damage can be blamed on you instead of the previous occupant, the cost of repairs will possibly come out of your deposit when you get ready to move away. Depending on what that cost is and the terms of your lease, you might not get anything returned.
3) Ask for help.
Part of being an adult is being independent, but part of it is also recognizing when you cannot do something by yourself and need to ask for assistance. In regards to moving, you will always need help - with lugging boxes and putting together furniture on move-in day at the very least. If you have family or a friend you trust in the area you are moving to and you cannot do a walk-through before you move in, make arrangements to have them do it for you. Be sure they understand what information you need beforehand.
4) CLEAN before unpacking.
Generally speaking, renters are tasked to make sure an apartment is tidy and in fair condition before they vacate, and most landlords will give the apartment a more thorough cleaning in between renters. However, sometimes, an apartment sits uninhabited for some time or things get missed. Then, there is the mess that can happen when you move in. Cleaning up before you unpack will help you give attention to what might have been neglected. It will also familiarize you with the layout you have and give you a better sense of how you can arrange things than you might have gotten during the walk-through.
5) Be considerate of others while moving items in.
When you are in the middle of moving in, it is easier to look for convenient ways to get your stuff into your apartment. Unfortunately, the most convenient [methods|ways]166] to do so can make it a hassle for your neighbors to come and go as they are accustomed to and give them the wrong first impression of you as a person. It is their community you are joining when you move in, after all. You will have an easier time assimilating with the community in Houston if you are mindful of them from the start.
If you are ready to find your first apartment in Houston, A-1 Freeman can help you every step of the way. We can handle every move, no matter how big or small. Click below to get started with your Free Estimate.
